Tracing contamination sources through phenotypic characterization of Escherichia coli isolates from surface water and groundwater in an agro-ecosystem |
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| Authors: | M L Gambero M Blarasin S Bettera J Giuliano Albo |
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| Institution: | 1. Microbiology Section and CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council), Laboratory of Food Microbiology, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina;2. Laboratory of Hydrogeology, Geology Section, National University of Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina |
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| Abstract: | The objective of this research was to evaluate the groundwater chemical and bacteriological quality in the Barranquita-Knutzen basin (Córdoba, Argentina). The main purpose was to trace contamination through the examination of bacteriological parameters and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli, relating them to surface water, hydrogeological features and land use. Thus, 40 water samples were collected. The major chemical components and bacterial indicators were determined and antibiotic resistance was analysed using standard methods. Multivariate factorial analysis showed that the first principal component (PC) reveals the process of water mineralization, while the second and the third PCs explain a low percentage of variance, but collect chemical constituents and total and faecal coliform bacteria, respectively, revealing specific contamination situations. The observed antibiotic resistance profiles of E. coli and their relation with the land uses revealed that the source of faecal contamination in water is mainly from animal residues. |
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| Keywords: | antibiotic resistance bacteria surface water and groundwater land use |
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